Indians rough up Toronto with big blasts

AP

By IAN HARRISON

Associated Press

TORONTO — Francisco Lindor had two solo homers and four RBIs, Shane Bieber pitched into the seventh inning to remain unbeaten in nine road starts and the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-4 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

Lindor connected on right-hander Sam Gaviglio’s third pitch of the game, the seventh leadoff homer of his career, then went deep to right off Gaviglio again in the third for his eighth career multihomer game. Lindor has 33 home runs this season. He added a two-run single in the fifth and singled again in the ninth.

Toronto’s Rowdy Tellez doubled in the second and fourth innings after getting a pinch-hit double in his debut Wednesday, making him the first player in major league history with extra-base hits in each of his first three plate appearances.

Bieber (9-3) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, improving to 5-0 away from home.

Gaviglio (3-8) allowed five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings to lose for the fourth time in five starts.

Trailing 2-0 on Lindor’s two blasts, the Blue Jays rallied with four in the fourth. Tellez doubled home a run, Tesocar Hernandez hit a two-run double and scored on a fielding error by first baseman Yonder Alonso.

The Indians answered with three in the fifth. Brandon Guyer chased Gaviglio with an RBI double, and Lindor greeted reliever Jose Fernandez with a two-run single.

Indians outfielder Greg Allen gave his team a two-run cushion with an RBI double off right-hander Justin Shafer in the seventh.

Cleveland’s Tyler Olson pitched to one batter in the seventh. Adam Cimber got two outs, Cody Allen worked the eighth and Dan Otero finished.

SORRY CHIEF

Cleveland removed the Chief Wahoo logo from the sleeve of its uniforms for the series, a move that is set to become permanent next season. The decision to nix the logo this series was partially driven by a failed legal challenge against the team when it played in Toronto during the 2016 AL Championship Series. While Cleveland played the Blue Jays, a lawsuit was filed to have the logo and team name banned from Canadian TV. A judge dismissed the case.

The Indians will return to their regular uniforms when they play at Tampa Bay next week.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (left shoulder) felt good after a 20-pitch bullpen session Thursday. Miller’s next step is not known. … OF Michael Brantley was held out of the starting lineup after fouling a pitch off his left foot Wednesday. … 3B Josh Donaldson (left calf) had the day off Thursday. Donaldson will play for Double-A Akron in a playoff game Friday.

Blue Jays: Toronto recalled C Reese McGuire and Shafer from Triple-A. McGuire started behind the plate, becoming the 61st player used by the Blue Jays this season, a club record.

UP NEXT

Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (16-8, 3.52) faces Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (7-11, 5.43) on Friday. Carrasco had a 1.85 ERA in six August starts but allowed five runs in a loss to Tampa Bay last week. Estrada has allowed 11 earned runs over his past two outings, losing both.